Apparatus for treating textiles



June 3, .1941. E. J. BERGER ETAL 2,243,997

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES a Sheets-Shee t 1 W Fa E Em M V o mJv w. .mmWA a figm J Filed Feb. 24, 1940 June 3, 1941. E. J. BERGER ETAL APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1940 INVENTORS Emzl Jflergg fibwa'rd TlQl/idi ATTORNEYS.

June 3,1941. J BERGER ETAL 2,243,997 APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES.-

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J1me 1941- E. J. BERGER EI'AL 3,997

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES Filed Feb. 24, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 .'INVENTOR'5: JJmil Jfier er 25:. ivbward Wm zws,

ATTCRNEYS.

Jun 3, 1941. E, J BERGER E1- AL- 2,243,997

' APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES Filed Feb. 24, 1 940 a Sheets-Sheet s HG: Jill- INVENTORS: Emit Jfiei %er 5:. iibwa'rd Willa hews W m A ATTORNEY such chamber.

Patented June 3, 1941 .APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES Emil J. Berger, Hatfield, and Howard W. Matthews, Lansdale, Pa., asslgnors to Dexdale Hosiery Mills, Lansdale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 24, I940, Serial No. 320,656

24 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating textiles. More specifically, it is concerned with apparatus useful in instances where the treatment of textiles first with a hot vaporous pressure medium such as steam under pressure and afterwards with a heated drying machine, is desirable or necessary, as for example in the finishing of articles like stockings woven or knitted from synthetic yarns, in order to condition them, i. e., to improve their appearance and feel, as well as to give them an initial set preparatory to dyeing. Our improved treating apparatus is thus especially useful in carrying out certain phases of a method set forth in U. S. Patent No. 2,157,1l9-granted to John B. Miles, Jr., on May 9, 1939.

The chief aim of our invention is to enable such treatment. to be accomplished expeditiously in a substantially continuous manner, with economical use of the treating media and with precision as regards uniformity in the effect produced. This desiderata we attain as hereinafter more fully disclosed, through provision of an apparatus which preferably includes at least two treating chambers side by side adapted to be used in alternation and fitted with separate doors, and which is further characterized by having stationary tracks laterally adjacent the re- .mote side walls of the treating chambers and parallel with the fronts of the latter, supplemental tracks on the inner sides of the doors capable of registry with the inner ends of the stationary tracks when the doors are open, and carriages for supporting the material or articles to be treated, which carriages are shiftable from the stationary tracks to thesupplemental tracks for movement into the chambers as'the doors are closed, and vice versa.

In connection withtreating apparatus organized as above and having latching means for the individual closures, it is a further aim of our invention to safeguard against injury of the attendants by escape of the hot steam from the treating chambers as the doors are opened. This objective we realize, as also more fully disclosed hereinafter, through provision of an individual valve means for controlling admission and exhaust of the pressure medium from each chamber, and associated means which will prevent operation of the latch mechanism for release of the door of such chamber until the valve means has been operated to shut off the supply of the steam and to relieve the pressure within Another object of our invention is to enable the drying to be accomplished within each treating chamber immediately after the steam treatment, and to make it possible to control the devices employed in heating and propelling the drying medium automatically. This objective is,

of the chamber door, and while the articles under treatment are still supported by said door.

In connection with treating apparatus intended especially for conditioning articles like hosiery mounted on shaping forms, it is a further aim of our invention to facilitate the loading and unloading of the forms. realized in practice as later set forth in greater detail, through provision of means whereby the forms can be displaced, one relative to another.

and by novel construction of the carriages which renders them extendable so that the forms may be spaced apart when on the external tracks, and collapsible to bring the forms into compact groups for accommodation in the treating chambers.

Another object of our invention is to attain all the foregoing advantages in a textile treating apparatus which does not require the exercise of any special skill on the part of attendants to operate it, and which, moreover, is simple and lends itself to ready and economic construction.

Still other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I is a view, in front elevation, of a textile treating apparatus conveniently embodying our invention.

Fig. II is a fragmentary detail view in. plan looking as indicated by the angled arrows II-II in Fig. I.

Fig. III isa horizontal sectional view of the apparatus taken as indicated by the angled arrows III-,-III in Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a fragmentaryviewzpartly in plan,

' and partly in horizontal section.

Fig. V is a transverse sectional view of the This advantage is in turn. 1

Fig. VIII is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by the angled arrows VIII-VIII in F IV.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary transverse detail section taken as indicated by the angled arrows IXIX in Fig. HI.

Fig. is a fragmentary detail view looking ating lever which is offset outwardly from the front face of the door 23 and provided at its free end with a grasp handle 35. Accordingly, the latches 28 will be simultaneously withdrawn from the keepers when the lever handle is moved upward from the horizontal position in which it is shown in Fig. I. A stop 35 (Figs. I and VI) on each door 23 limits the downward movement of the lever 33 incident to locking such door.

Hot pressure fluid medium such as steam is supplied from a suitable source (not illustrated) by way of a pipe main 31 which extends horizontally beneath the housing It and which I has branches 38 respectively leading upward into the bottoms of the respective treating chambers .22.

. Interposed in the branches 38 are valves'39, the

as indicated by the angled arrows X--X in Fig. IV.

Fig. XI is a wiring diagram of various electric devices used in connection with the apparatus.

Figs. XII and XIII are views corresponding to Fig. XI showing the circuit-under difierent conditions of operation.

Fig. XIV is a detail view in plan showing :a u

operating means for which will be presently described. The treating chambers 22 are exhausted from the top by way of upward pipe outlets respectively shown at 48 in Fig. I, having rearwardly discharging branches 4| with elbow valves 42 interposed at the junctures of the pipe sections. Positive exhausting of the chambers Fig. XVI is a view in cross section like Fig. V

of an alternative of our improved treating apparatus.

Fig. XVII is a fragmentary view in plan of the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. XVI; and

Fig. XVIII is another view in vertical section of still another alternative embodiment of our invention.

In the form exemplified in Figs. I-XV, the conditioning apparatus of our invention has a subframe l5 of table height which may be conveniently and inexpensively constructed from structural iron. Mounted centrally of the subframe I5 is a housing IS with top, bottom and back walls l1, l8 and l3,-respectively, and end walls 20, 20 all of whichrmay be of sheet metal. In practice, although not so shown in the drawings, the housing I6 is preferably covered with suitable thermo-insulating material. vertical partition 2| subdivides the housing into two upright chambers 22, 22 each with a frontal door 23 which is attached by hinges 2,5 to the corresponding end wall. Instead of being hinged as herein shown by way of example, the doors may be otherwise mounted or supported so as to be retractable relative to the front of the housing. Each door closes fluid tight against a compressible sealing strip 28 extending perimetrically of the door opening (Fig. VI) and held in place by metallic stop strips shown at 21.

A central.

22 is effected by exhaust fans 43 connected to the ends of the exhaust pipe branches, said fans being driven by electric motors 44.

The means for controlling the steam inlet and exhaust valves 39 and 42 associated with each compartment 22 includes' a vertical shaft 45 which is journalled in spaced bearings 46 and 41 on a door, see Figs. 1. IV and VI. Secured to the top end of the shaft 45 are cams 48 and 48.

As a means for securing each door 23 in closed v position, we have devised a latching mechanism,- which, see Figs. 1, VI and VII, includes a plurality of latches 28. As shown, these latches 28 are individually pivoted intermediate their ends to.rock on screw studs 28 projecting at spaced intervals along the swinging edge of each door 23. The outer ends of the. latches 28 coactindividually with hook-like keepers 30 affixed to a jam post 3| at the front edge of the partition 2|. At their inner ends, the latches 28 are connected, for operation in unison. to a bar 32. One of the latches28 on each door is extended as at 33 in Figs. I and VI, so as to be serviceable as an actuwhich are set substantially at right angles. The upper cam is arranged to cooperate with a lever 50 which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends at 5| to the top of the housing l6. By means of a rearwardly extending link rod 52 the lever 50 is connected to an arm 53 at the top of a rock shaft 55 which is journalled in vertically spaced bearings 56 and 51 at the backs of the housing l6 and the sub-structure l5 respectively, see Fig.

V. To the lower end of the rock shaft 55 is in turn secured an arm 58 which has a sliding pivot connection at 53 with the actuating lever or arm of the steam inlet valve 39, as also shown in Fig. IV. The other cam 48 at the top of the valve control shaft 45 on the door 23 in turn cooperates with another lever 6| which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a'stud 62 projecting upward from the top of the housing l5, said lever being connected, by means of a link 63 to the actuating arm 65 of the exhaust valve 42, see Fig. IV. At the bottom, the valve control shaft 45 on the door has an operating handle 86, see Figs. I and VI and immediately"- above the bearing 41 carries a collar 61 with a radial projection, which, when the chamber 22 is closed, extends over the top of the operating handle 33 for the latch mechanism to prevent actuation of said mechanism before valve operation for a purpose presently set forth. With the door closed as illustrated, and the valve operating handle 66 in the position as illustrated in Fig. I, the lever 50 is in direct engagement with the cam 48 and through the interposed instrumentalities which have been described, holds the stem in that valve 39 open against the action of the spring so that steam is constantly admitted into the chamber- 22. The lever 6| on the other hand is clear of the cam 49 on the shaft so that the exhaust valve is held closed by its spring. When the handle 66 is swung in the opposite position, or in other words, to that shown in Figs. I or II, the cam 49 is brought into engagement. with the lever 6|, while the cam 48 is at the same time withdrawn from engagement with the lever 58, the exhaust valve 42 being thus opened, and the steam admission valve 39 closed. When the handle 65 is turned as just described,

. the stop collar 81 is swung out of the way to release the latch operating lever so that the latchmechanism can be operated to open the door 23.

Supported in part by angularly arranged braces I2 of the sub-frame I and extending beyond opposite ends of the housing I8 in parallel rela tion to the fronts of the chambers 22, are spacedparallel track rails 13 and I4 for carriages I5 which, in the present instance embody groups of upright supports or shaping forms I8 for the mounting of stockings. Each such carriage I5 is constructed after. the manner of a lazy tong with pivot-ally interconnected crossed bars II inclined braces I2 of the sub-frame I5, see Figs.

1, III and IX.

Secured to the inner face of each door 23 at the level of the tracks and tables I3, I4 and 88 respectively, are complemental track sections 8I, 82 and tables 83. As shown, the outer ends of the complemental track sections BI, 82 and tables 83 are curved as at 85 in concentric relation to the door hinges 2 5, as are also the contiguous inner ends of the stationary tracks and tables as at 86 so that only narrow clearances intervene when the doors are opened as at the right of Figs. I and III. In order that the doors 23 are held open with assurance of accurate alignment of the complemental track rails 8|, 82 with the stationary track rails 13, I4, we have further provided holding means, see Figs. 1, III and V and X, each of which includes a. fixed stop 81 adapted to be engaged by the door 23 and a latch element 88. As shown, each latch element 88 is in the form of a horizontal gravity lever pivoted intermediate its ends to afixed lug 89. The latching end of the element 88 is beveled as at 98 in Fig. VIII so as to be momentarily depressed by the lowermost door latch 28 as the latter overtravels it incident to door opening, and to be immediately thereafter righted by action of its heavier manipulating end, 9| and thereby restored to locking position. Normally the weighted manipulating end 9| of the latch element 88 restson the top of the rail 13 as shown in Fig. X.

By virtue of the capacity of the carriages I5 for being extended when withdrawn from the chambers 22 as instanced to the right of Figs. I and III, the application and removal of the hosiery to and from the shaping forms 18, is-

9| of the latch element. 88 andthen swung to closed position.

' Sustained by the substructure I5 at the loading stations (Fig. I) at each end of the apparatus is a shelf 92 for the support of boxes 93 for the untreated stockings; and centrally of the substructure immediately in front of the housing I8 is a table plate 94 on which the stockings may be piled after each treatment.

Moisture condensation accumulating in the chambers 22 is carried off by pipes 91 which connect into a common main 98 and which have interposed in them suitable traps which are indicated at 99. v I

In order that each of the chambers 22 may be utilized, subsequent to the steaming treatment, for drying purposes, we have provided each such chamber at the bottom with an. air inlet pipe I88, see Figs. IV and V. This air inlet pipe I88 has a horizontal branch I 8| connected through an elbow valve I82, and terminating in a screened "parallel with the exhaust fan motor 44 and the valve operating shaft 45 on the door.

air heating element I85, in a power circuit of which the conductors are designated I81 and I88. This circuit is arranged to be controlled by switches conventionally indicated at I89 and I I8, whereof the first is operated by a projection III on the connecting bar of the latching mechanism and the second by a cam lug II2 on the It is to be. understood that a circuit such as just described is provided for each of the chambers 22 In the use of the apparatus, the steam pressure regulating valve shown at R in Fig. I is set to maintain a pressure, which may be from five to twenty-five pounds, depending on the character and weight of the yarn from which the stockings are made, such regulation being facilitated with the aid of the pressure gauges 95 and thermometers 98 at the tops of the respective chambers 22. After mounting the stockings on the forms I8, the carriage I5 is collapsed and shifted from the stationary track to the track on the back of the door 23 of the corresponding treating chamber 22. 'The door is thereupon closed and latched and the handle 68 of the valve control shaft45 swung to the position shown at the left of Fig. II with the result that the steam admission valve 39 and the exhaust valve 42 of the corresponding chamber 22 areopened and closed respectively due to the positioning of the cams 48 and 49 as shown in Figs. II and XI. From the latter figure it will be observed that at this time, the switch H8 is held open by the lug I I2 on the valve control shaft 45 and the current flow consequently interrupted to the blower motor 44, the heating element I and the operating solenoid I 85 for the air induction valve I82 which is in closed position. After the expiration of from two to five minutes, the handle 88 of the valve control shaft 45 is swung to the positionshown in Fig. XII with the result that the steam admission valve 39 is closed, the exhaust valve 42 is opened, and the switch H8 is closed.

Through the latter occurrence current flow .is established in the circuit I81, I88 to open the air inlet valve I 82 to start the blower motor 44, and to operate the heating element I85, with resultant subjection of the hosiery to a constant flow of heated air within the treating chamber 22. After expiration of a time interval necessary to the proper drying of the stockings, the

stationary track for removal of the dried stockings.

The construction and arrangement of the apparatus as herein illustrated is especially advantageous in that it enables the treating process to be carried out in a substantially continuous manner, since, during the time one batch of the stockings is being treated in one chamber, the other chamber may be opened, the carriage withdrawn therefrom, unloaded of the treated stockings, reloaded and returned to such chamber.

In the modification shown in Figs. XIV and XV, each shaping form 16a has, at one side near the bottom, a lug I'I5 with a depending pivot pin II6 which fits into an upstanding socket boss III at the center of the corresponding supporting'cross bar 11a of the carriage 15a. The cross bar 'I'Ia also has an upstanding stop lug 8 with which the form 16a normally contacts and to which it is locked by a yielding spring catch II9. As a consequence of this arrangement, the form Ilia may be turned relative to the supporting bar 11a in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. XIV and as indicated in dot and dash lines when the carriage 15a is extended,

for greater convenience of inspection of the stock-- treatment is eifected and after the chamber door is opened, exteriorly of the treating chamber 22b instead of within it as described in connection with the first embodiment. The drying means in this instance includes for each chamber 22b a motor, driven blower I20 which is located'beneath the housing IIib and which delivers into a'. forwardly extending duct I2I. As shown in Fig. XVI, the outer end of the duct I2I is upwardly curvedvat the front of the substructure I51; and terminates in a fiat nozzle I22 which discharges upwardly and inwardly at an angle toward the open doorof the chamber. The air which is heated by an electric heating unit conventionally indicated at I23 within the duct III, is thus blown between and around the forms 16b on the door 23b and deflected forwardly by the latter with the result that rapid and eflicient drying is accomplished. Control of the blower I20 and the heating element I 23 may be efl'ected manually, or it may be effected auto-; matically incident to opening and closing of the chamber door 23b in a manner similar to that described in connectibn with the automatic control of the corresponding elements of the first embodiment of our invention. In all other respects the alternative embodiment Just described is identical with the first one, and accordingly, in order to obviate the necessity for duplicate description, the same reference numerals have been found to be more desirable in practice for the purpose of greater operative economy, a unitary drying system may be provided for the two chambers of the alternative embodimentin Figs. XVI and XVII, in which case a single blower would be employed and the .delivery conduit provided with separate branches withsuitably allocated terminal discharge nozzles.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. XVIII, each of thedrying chambers is provided at the back with a vertical by-pass I25 which connects through horizontal bends I26 and I2l into the top and bottom of such chamber. Within the lower bend I2I of the by-pass I25 is located a blower fan I28 which is driven by an exteriorly located electric motor I29 and an electric heating element I30. Thus in this instance (after the termination of the initial treating phase and turning off the steam but with the exhaust valve held closed) the heated air is continuously circulated by way of the by-pass I25 through and about the stockings on the forms within the closed chamber; The control of the blower motor I29 and the heating element I30 may be generally like that of the first embodiment, or it may be eifected manually through provision of suitable switch facilities. I-Iere again the same reference numerals have been employed, except for the addition in each instance of the letter c as an exponent to designate various elements which have their counterpartsin the first described embodiment.

While for the purposes of exemplification herein, we have shown and described our invention in an embodiment particularly adapted for the conditioning of hosiery, it is not to be considered as limited to this special field of use, since by a carriage for the textiles; means on the back of the door for supporting the carriage for movement into and out of the chamber when the door is closed and opened; and a track external to the chamber for receiving the textile carriage from the supporting means on the back of the door when said door is'in open position.

2. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for circulating drying medium about the textiles after treatment with the vapor.

3. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for circulating drying medium about the textiles while within the chamber after treatment with-the vapor.

4. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for circulating drying medium. said circulating means including an inlet for the drying medium, a control valve interposed in- ,the inlet; and control means common to the several valves and operative to open the admission valve for the drying medium concurrently with closing and'opening employed to designate corresponding parts with the addition however, in each instance, of the exponent b for convenience of distinction. If

respectively of the admission and exhaust valves, for the vaporous treatingmedium.

5. Textile treating apparatus comprising a treating chamber with a fluid tight door; door latching mechanism; means for controlling admission and exhaust of a pressure vapor medium toand from the treating chamber; an actuating member and interposed connections operable only when the door is latched whereby the admission means is opened concurrently with closing of the exhausting means and vice versa; and safety when the admission valve is opened-the exhaust valve is closed, or vice versa; a normally closed valve for admitting the drying medium into the chamber; means automatically operated by the valve control means incident to closing of the admission valve for the vaporous medium and opening of the exhaust valve after the first phase of the treatment, to open the valve which ad-- mits the drying medium; and means operated by the latch operating means subsequently incident to release of the latch prior to opening the door, to automatically close the last mentioned valve.

7. Apparatus, according to claim 6, for treating textiles first with a vaporous pressure mediumand afterwards with a heated gaseous drying medium, further including a normally quiescent propelling means, means operated automatically by the valve control means whereby when the drying medium admission valve is opened, the

propelling means is started to circulate the dry ing medium within the chamber; and means automatically operated by the latch operating means to stop the propelling means concurrently with shutting oil of the drying medium.

8. Apparatus, according to claim 6, for treat ing textiles first with a vaporous pressuremedium and afterwards with a heated gaseous drying medium, further including a normally inactive means for heating the drying medium prior to its entry intothe chamber; a normally quiescent propelling means for circulating the drying medium Within the chamber; means automatically operated by the valve-control means whereby, when the drying medium admission valve is opened, the propelling means and heating means are set into action; and means automatically operated by the latch operating means incident to release of the door subsequently, to render the propelling means and the heating means inactive concurrently with closing of the last mentioned valve.

9. Apparatus, according to claim 6, for treatingtextiles first with a vaporous pressure medium and. afterwards with a heated gaseous drying medium, further including a normally inactive electric heating element for heating the drying medium prior to its entry into the chamber; a normally quiescent electric motor driven fan for circulating the drying medium within the chamber; an electric circuit in which the heating element and the fan motor are connected; a switch automatically closed by the valve control means when the latter is operated at the completion of the first phase of the treatment to close the circuit;

and another switch automatically operated by the latch operating means subsequently incident to release of the latch prior to opening the door, to open said circuit.

10. Textile treating apparatus comprising a treating chamber with a retractable door; a stationary track externally of the front of the chamber; a supplemental track on the door which registers with the stationary track when the-door is opened; and a carriage for the material being treated shi-ftable from the stationary track to the supplemental track for movement into the chamber incident to closing of the door, and vice versa.

11. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 10, including a valve for admitting a vaporous pressure medium into the chamber; an exhaust valve for releasing the vaporous medium from the chamber; and safety means preventing opening of the door before operation of the exhaust valve to relieve the pressure within the chamber.

l2. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 10, including latch means for securing the door in closed position; a valve for admitting a' vaporous pressure medium into the chamber; an exhaust valve for releasing the vaporous medium from the chamber; and safety means preventing operation of the door latching means to open the door before operation of the exhaust valve for relief of the pressure within the chamber.

13. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising latching means with an actuating lever, for securing the door in closed position; a valve for admitting vaporous pressure medium into the chamber; an exhaust valve for releasing the vaporous medium from the chamber; actuating mechanism for the valves including a shaft, with an actuating handle, journalled on the door, rotary cams on the shaft, arms fulcrumed on the treating chamber and adapted to be actuated by the rotary cam, and connections between the arms and the valve, and a collar on the shaft having a projection which overreaches the latch-actuating lever to prevent the door from being unlatched and opened before the admission valve is closed and the exhaust valve is operated to relieve the pressure within the treating chamber.

14. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the carriage has a plurality of supports for the materials or articles which are to be treated, and wherein the carriage is extendible and contractible so that it may be opened out on the stationary track for convenience of loading and unloading the supports, and collapsed after loading so as to be accommodatable within the confines of the treating chamber.

15. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the carriage is in the form of a lazy tong with interpivoted. crossed bars to certain of which individual supports for the materials or articles which are to be treated are attached, whereby said carriage can be extended on the stationary track for convenience of loading and unloading the supports, and collapsed after loading so as to be accommodatable within the confines ofthe treating chamber.

16. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the door is hingedly connected to one side wall of the chamber so as to swing horizontally, wherein the stationary track is disposed laterally adjacent said side wall and par'allelto the front of the chamber, and wherein the ends of the stationary and supplemental tracks which are contiguous to each other when the door is open, are curved concentrically with the hingeaxis so as to meet with a-slight intervening clearance.

17. Textile treating apparatus comprising an enclosure which aflords a pair of treating chambers side'br side having individual doors respectively pivoted to the vertical edges of the remote side walls of said chambers; stationary tracks respectively laterally beyond the remote side walls of the enclosure in parallel relation to the fronts of the chambers; supplemental tracks on the doors which respectively register with the inner ends of the stationary tracks when the doors are in open position; and carriages for the material which is to be treated, respectively shiftahle from the stationar ytracks to the supplemental tracks for movement into the chambers incident to closing of the doors, and vice versa.

18. Textile treating apparatus according to claim v1'7, in which the carriages are extendible for convenience of loading and unloading when on the stationary tracks, and collapsible for accommodation within the confines of the treat ing chamber.

19. Textile treating apparatus comprising a treating chamber with a fluid-tight door; means for controlling the admission and exhaust of' vaporous pressure conditioning medium to and from the chamber; a plurality of hosiery shaping forms; a carriage for the forms; means on the back of the door for supporting the carriage for movement into and out of the chamber when. the door is closed and opened; and a track external to the chamber for receiving the carriage from the supporting means on the back of the door when said door is in open position.

20a Textile treating apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the forms are connected to the carriage with capacity for being relatively displaced to facilitate application and removal of the hose to and from the individual forms after transfer of the carriage to the track.

21. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 19, further including means positioned to direct a blast of a heated drying medium about and between the forms after the door is opened and the carriage is still on the door.

22. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the door is hinged to one of the vertical side wallsof the treating chamber and wherein the forms are serially arranged on the carriage and positioned upright edgewise to ward the door back; and further including means positioned to direct a blast of heated drying medium toward the door when the latter is in open position and still supporting the carriage, so as to be passed through and around the forms.

23..Textile treating apparatus according to claim 19, in which the carriage is expandible after transfer to the track to increase the spacing of the forms for convenience of applying and removing the hosiery.

24. Textile treating apparatus according to claim 19, in which the carriage is expandible after transfer to the track to increase the spacing of the forms; and in which the forms are individually swingable about vertical axes for convenience of applying, removing and inspecting the hosiery.

EMIL J. BERGER. HOWARD W. MATTHEWS. 

